Cairns: match fixing allegations 'bizarre and scary'

CHRIS Cairns named Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills as three players who have aided the ICC's investigation into his alleged role in match-fixing.

Cairns was given full disclosure to evidence against him and outed the three current and former players as those who names appear in ICC anti-corruption documents.

He said two of those players recalled McCullum telling them he was approached by Cairns in 2008, while another memory was too "foggy" to give a statement.

Cairns arrived back in New Zealand today after spending the week in London with his lawyer Aaron Lloyd.

He describes the allegations ranged against him as "absurd, bizarre and scary".

He was questioned by the Metropolitan Police in relation to an investigation into possible match-fixing, with a view to the possibility he perjured himself in the defamation case Cairns v Modi in the High Court.

Cairns is one of three players, along with Daryl Tuffey and Lou Vincent, being investigated by the ICC's anti-corruption unit.

They played together in the short-lived Indian Cricket league for the Chandigarh Lions. Cairns and Tuffey have consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Vincent has admitted he is fully co-operating with the investigation.

Lou VincentGetty Images

Cairns said he attempted to befriend a troubled Vincent in 2008, but Vincent had betrayed that friendship an was trying to mitigate against his own fixing.

"In 2008, he had a lot of problems that he has admitted to," Cairns said. "I endeavoured to become a friend to him in these difficult times. He has betrayed the friendship I offered him.

"He now seeks to portray himself as a whistleblower. He is nothing of the sort. The truth is he has been caught cheating and seeks to mitigate his sins by blaming others. The allegations he and his ex-wife make against me are despicable lies."

Cairns said Brendon McCullum, who also testified against Cairns after allegedly being approached, had waited until February 17, 2011, before reporting the alleged approach.

"It is beyond doubt that, regardless of what certain people have claimed recently in the media, Brendon McCullum waited three years before reporting this alleged approach to an ICC anti-corruption official," Cairns said.

"He alleges I approached him during the ICL tournament in March, 2008. It is misleading at the least for a host of people to claim he reported my alleged corrupt approach within a timely fashion or that there had been a small delay.

"Mr McCullum first made his allegations to the ICC's ACSU on 17 February, 2011. Not only was this nearly three years after the alleged approach, but importantly it is 13 months before the trial, in March, 2012, of my case in the London High Court against Lalit Modi about match-fixing.

"At that trial, every allegation that I was match-fixing, was shown to be false. It is extraordionary that Mr McCullum told the ACSU is February, 2011 that three years previously I approached him to match fix, yet neither he or the ACSU anti-corruption officer that took his statement, Mr John Rhodes, took that information to the ICC or informed Mr Modi or anyone else of this startling revelation."

Cairns went on to reveal he had learned the identities of the former New Zealand players who had made statements against him.

"Based on the information I was provided in London, I now understand that there were two past players and one current New Zealand player, who Mr McCullum said he spoke to about the alleged approach.

"These three ex or current New Zealand players have made no direct accusation against me.

"These players are Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills, the brother of New Zealand Cricket Players' Association head Heath Mills. Two of these men made statements supporting Mr McCullum's claim that he spoke to them. The third man told investigators his memory was foggy and he could not make a statement in support of Mr McCullum.

"It is also significant that none of those players seem to have spoken to anyone at the ICC or any other organisation about my alleged conversation with Mr McCullum until this year, 2014."

"New Zealand Cricket is unable to comment on today's statement from Chris Cairns, regarding his interviews with British police and ICC investigators. Many of the points made are, or may be, matters of evidence, and it would be wholly inappropriate to discuss them ahead of relevant hearings and investigations."

I returned from London today, where, at my own request, I was interviewed by reps of Metropolitan Police, the ECB and the ICC anti-corruption unit.

This is in relation to an allegation I perjured myself at the trial Cairns v Modi in 2012, and separate allegations by the ICC's anti-corruption unit that I am a match-fixer. I was not arrested or otherwise detained in London and I have not been charged with any offence, criminal or otherwise.

As you are aware I was first interviewed by Met Police in Auckland six weeks ago.

However, the Met could not conclude the interview at that time as their officers had to return to the UK. In view of that and in light of the ICC's failure to conduct an interview with me at all at any time regarding these matters I decided to travel nearly 40,000km to make clear to police, the ICC and ECB that these allegations are false and I have nothing to hide.

I repeat that each and every allegation against me, that I have cheated at cricket or attempted to induce others to cheat at cricket is false. Having concluded these interviews, there are further points I now wish to make that will perhaps shed some light on issues that have been swirling around.

First, Lou Vincent. In 2008, he had a lot of problems that he has admitted to. I endeavoured to become a friend to him in these difficult times. He has betrayed the friendship I offered him.

He now seeks to portray himself as a whistleblower. He is nothing of the sort. The truth is he has been caught cheating and seeks to mitigate his sins by blaming others. The allegations he and his ex-wife make against me are despicable lies.

Secondly, it is beyond doubt that regardless of what certain people have claimed recently in the media, Brendon McCullum waited three years before reporting this alleged approach to an ICC anti-corruption official.

He alleges I approached him during the ICL tournament in March, 2008. It is misleading at the least for a host of people to claim he reported my alleged corrupt approach within a timely fashion or that there had been a small delay.

Mr McCullum first made his allegations to the ICC's ACSU on 17 February, 2011. Not only was this nearly three years after the alleged approach, but importantly it is 13 months before the trial, in March, 2012, of my case in the London High Court against Lalit Modi about match-fixing.

At that trial, every allegation that I was match-fixing, was shown to be false. It is extraordinary that Mr McCullum told the ACSU is February, 2011 that three years previously I approached him to match fix, yet neither he or the ACSU anti-corruption officer that took his statement, Mr John Rhodes, took that information to the ICC or informed Mr Modi or anyone else of this startling revelation.

Thirdly, there's been a great deal of speculation in the media that three, five or even more present or former New Zealand players have made statements against me, or supporting Mr Vincent or Mr McCullum.

Based on the information I was provided in London, I now understand that there were two past players and one current New Zealand player, who Mr McCullum said he spoke to about the alleged approach.

These three ex or current New Zealand players have made no direct accusation against me.

These players are Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills, the brother of New Zealand Cricket Players' Association head Heath Mills. Two of these men made statements supporting Mr McCullum's claim that he spoke to them. The third man told investigators his memory was foggy and he could not make a statement in support of Mr McCullum.

It is also significant that none of those players seem to have spoken to anyone at the ICC or any other organisation about my alleged conversation with Mr McCullum until this year, 2014.

As a result of my trip to London, I now also understand that no person has many any statements to support the allegations Mr Vincent and his ex-wife have sought to level against me. There are also no allegations that I ever received any monies for my alleged activities, nor paid any monies to any person.

I find the manner in which this whole matter has progressed, and the limited information that has been provided to me until very recently, to be very disturbing. Knowing what I now know of these allegations against me, I find the situation truly Absurd, bizarre and scary.

I now wait to see what happens next. Whatever happens, I am hopeful that proper process will be followed and that I will be cleared of these allegations.

I have never match-fixed, sought to have others match-fix, or otherwise play the game of cricket in anything other than the spirit it so richly deserves to be played in.

Over the last few years I have felt the influence of nameless, faceless people casting aspersions about me through the world of cricket and perhaps beyond. I have a small team of people in my corner who have believed in me throughout and are helping me now. I have said that there are dark forces at play here. The just concluded trip to England has not persuaded me to think any differently.